The National Crime Agency has launched an investigation into allegations that its staff may have leaked Reform MPs’ bank transactions, it has been revealed.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, took aim at the NCA earlier this month after media reported on transactions that had been flagged to the NCA under its Suspicious Activity Reports programme.
Richard Tice, Reform UK’s deputy leader, also found his bank transactions in the media.
The NCA has now confirmed it has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, The Telegraph reports.
The IOPC ordered that the NCA carry out an internal investigation.
In a letter to Reform UK’s lawyers, the NCA confirmed that its Professional Standards Unit has begun a leak investigation.
Reform UK has threatened legal action against the NCA, but the letter argues that “any litigation would be highly premature” because “an investigation of the complaint” should occur first.
Mr Tice told The Telegraph: “This is the first considered response from the NCA and it indicates they clearly have a problem and they are begging for more time before we serve the court papers.
“Now that we have finally got a response it shouldn’t be that difficult to work out whether someone has accessed my files and sent them on, and if so, who.
“We are outraged and will simply not tolerate this.”
Leaking information about SARs is a criminal offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Around 3,000 SARs are sent to the NCA every working day, and the NCA confirmed they found no evidence of wrongdoing by Mr Farage or Mr Tice.
Reports emerged earlier this month of SARs being sent to the NCA about a loan of £80,000 to Mr Tice’s company, Tisun Investments, from George Cottrell.
Cottrell is a convicted fraudster and a close ally of Mr Farage. The payment was received in 2024 and paid back weeks later.
Another SAR was raised over a £1million donation from Mr Cottrell’s mother to a think tank owned by Mr Tice, and a £5million gift to Mr Farage from Christopher Harborne was also reported to the NCA.
Mr Farage and Mr Tice argue that the NCA was the only one in possession of all the information that was leaked to The Guardian and The Sunday Times, with Mr Tice demanding an inquiry.
He previously said: “I believe the National Crime Agency has leaked confidential conversations between me and my bank managers as well as multiple bank statements from different banks to The Guardian.
“One or more people at the NCA have thus committed numerous criminal acts. This appears to be a deliberate tactic to smear and discredit me.
“I have nothing to hide. I think the same has occurred against Nigel Farage.
“I demand an immediate explanation from the director general, an internal inquiry and for the police to investigate. Someone must be held accountable.”
